Panola Mountain State Park is located in the Piedmont province of Georgia, an
area of largely level metamorphic and igneous rock. The Panola granite is
believed to be the result of an intrusion of magma into the existing rock.
This occurred during a time when the Piedmont province was much different.
In the millions of years since the intrusion, the Piedmont has been leveled by
the forces of weathering and erosion. This level surface is now dotted
with the remnants of more resistant rock called monadnocks.

The Panola granite is thought to have formed over 300 million years ago when
magma was forced into the country rock. Due to the heat, the country rock
fractured and some of the pieces of it melted and became part of the
magma. Other fragments at the edge of the magma chamber remained intact
and we now find them as inclusions or xenoliths. Over millions of years,
the magma cooled and the rock contracted. This resulted in fractures
called joints and some were filled with minerals. Finally, tens of
thousands of feet of overlying rock was removed by erosion. This left the
Piedmont at its current elevation and exposed the more resistant Panola
Mountain.

At Panola Mountain, there is a variety of geologic phenomena to
observe. You will notice areas where trees are growing and there seems to
be an unusual angle between the large trees and the saplings. This is due
to soil creep - the barely perceptible downward movement of soil. There is
also an elongated granite outcrop of what is often called "pavement
rock." This results from the exfoliation process where the rock has
expanded due to a decrease in pressure. Xenoliths are commonly found on
Panola Mountain and include amphibolite, biotite gneiss, and granite gneiss.
There is also an area where you can see the contact between the country rock and
the Panola granite. There are loose, flat rocks (amphibolite) which
greatly differ from the nearby granite boulders.

Finally, there is a stream that winds through Panola Mountain State Park
which provides an opportunity for a look at hydrology. By observing the
valley depth, you can see that man as well as nature has played a roll in the
shaping of this landscape. This valley is cultivated which enhances the
effect of runoff. There is also an example of a knick point due to an area
of the streambed having an area of more resistant rock. You can also see
how joints in the Panola granite have controlled the stream's path by allowing
the stream to follow the path of least resistance. There are also examples
of meanders and an area that is likely to become a cut-off meander. In the
flood plain of the stream, you will find fertile soil and lush ferns and trees.